Numbering-head.



A. H. SMITH. NUMBBRING HEAD. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1912.

s==-his L mi Q a 1% I. A .1 l i l Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

11am ring heads,

tion by a similar wheel of nnrrnn snares ome onnron v AMOS E. SMITH, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

nmunnnme-nnan.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Bronx, in the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements inNumbering-Heads, of whichthe following is a specilicatiomieference beinghad therein to "the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

and more particularly to means for preventing the accidental actuationof a digit wheel of higher denominanext lower denomination. 1 V

The main object of the invention is to provide a numbering head whereinthe transfer mechanism will successively actuate the digitv type Wheels,and whereinthese wheels will be normally locked in a manner to preventthe actuation of any digit wheel resulting in the accidental actuationof an ad-' joiningdigit wheel of next higher or lower.

'- denomination, while being automatically released as the transfermechanism becomes operative in relation thereto. 7

A further object is to provide a-locking mechanism which will beefiective to pres" vent the rotation of any digit wheel ex'cepting theunits or primary wheel at all times except when the erative in relationto a particular wheel.

A still furtherobject is to provide a I ium-. boring head wherein eachof the digit wheelswill be normally locked by .a mechanism under thecontrol of the digit wheel of neat higher or lower 46 sure a timelyrelease of the locking mechdenomination, so as to inmsm. v A stillfurther object is to boring head wherein when any digit wheel of higherorflower denominationfshall be untime when the transfer mechanism is notabout to become operative with relation thereto, there will be ositionedbetween said wheel and t e umt or primary locked at a 1- wheel, at leastone digit wheel which will be of this characterxembodying tomaticallyacting mechamsmi'which will t e various digit wheels as locked'so as toprevent theaccidental actuation of the unlocked wheel. And astillfurther object is to provide a numbering head therein an aulock andrelease required, and which may. be applied to the Specification ofLetterslatent.

ordinary numbering head invention relates to improvements in r taken onthe line 22 transfer mechanism is 0pnomination with; arithmeticalprogression of the numbers. v I printed. If the provide a mnnwithoutinterfer-- Patented Mar. 16., 1915. Application filed June 25, 1912.Serial no. 705,786.

ing with the other operative parts thereof, o'r necessltatmg a change inthe design or dimensions of the head.

7 The invention consists primarily in anumberm head embod ing therein aplurality of in ependent, digit type wheels, a transfer mechanismwhereby said wheels are succes sively rotated in carrying from onedenomination to another, locking means normally.

holding all of said wheels excepting the unit or primary wheel againstrotation, and means operative by the wheels in their sequence ofoperation whereby said locking means will be rendered inoperative aseach wheel is actuated in its order by said transfer mechanism; and nsuch other novel features I of construction and combination of parts asare hereinafterset forth and described, and more particularly pointedout in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings :-Fi gure '1 is a plan view of a number headembodying my invention, a portion thereof being shown in section; Fig.Qis a side View of one wheel, of Fig. 1; Fig. Bisa side view of anadjoining wheeh'taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is'a perspectiveview of the shaft; and Fig.

and cause the rotation of a wheel of one'de-f the wheel of another de-vnomination to turn a resultant loss of ,the

head be'used inan ascend a-wheel of lngher denomlmg progression,

5 is a front view of the head, showing the transfer mechanism.

nation is liable to be time accidentally" actu- I atedywhile if in adescending progression a wheel of lower denomination is'liable to bethus accidentially turned.

Inasmuch as ac curacy is essential to certain lines of work,

bonds, stock certificates, not to spoil an head wherein as bank notes,.drafts, checks, etc, in order edition or series, a numbering such anaccidental actuation of a wheel outv occur is desirable'- y of its ordercannot In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown my invention applied'toa numbering head of-well knownoonstruction I In the said drawings; aindicates i reference to a machine of this type, it being understood,however, that this mechanism may be reversed to have the head print in adescending progression, as when it is desired to have the numberedarticles arranged in piles with the lowest number uppermost. Each of thewheels 0, c, 0 c 0 c is provided with a ratchet d, d, d d d", d engagedby a spring pressed pawl e, 6', 6 ,6

\ e 6 and adapted to accurately position each wheel for printing andhold it against movement while the types are being inked. Each of saidwheels is provided with printing type from 0 to 9, there being a ratchetfor each character.

Mounted in the frame a is an impact plunger f adapted to actuate theunit or primary wheel a by means of the spring pressed pawl gcooperating with the ratchet d, and the transfer mechanismwhich will bemore fully described hereinafter. Said pawl and said transfer mechanismare carried, and actuated, by an oscillatory frame 71 under the controlof the plunger f.

The transfer mechanism comprises agrad-x uated series of pawls 'g' g g gwhich together with the pawl g are pivoted upon the frame 72, and arespring pressed toward the wheels 0 to c inclusive. All of these pawlsact in unison, and are adapted to enter recesses z in each of the wheels0 to c inclusive, the varying heights of these pawls determining theoperative relation of the transfer mechanism to the wheels adapted to beactuated during the transfer operation. For instance, if the figure 9upon the unit or primary digit wheel 0 be in the printing position, thepawl 9 will enter the recess 71 in this wheel, thus permitting, the pawlg to engage the ratchet of the wheel a, theremaining pawls g to 9 beingthus'held out of engagement with their respective ratchets and preventedfrom assuming the operative relation to their wheels. The pawls g to g,with the continued operation of the head, will successively drop intothe recess i in their respective ratchet wheels, thus causing the pawlactuating a wheel of lower denomination, to normally hold the pawls ofhigher denomination out of engagement Withtheir wheels, but permittingsuch engagement once during each rotation of such wheel of lowerdenomination.

my invention is capable of application. In

this type of head as now used, all of the digit wheels are capable ofbeing simultaneously advanced independently of the transfer mechanism,as in case of the accumulation of dried ink between the wheels, and itis to obviate this condition that T'have 'developed my presentinvention.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the shaft Z) with a series ofperipheral recesses j, one adjacent to each tooth of the ratchet of eachdigit wheel. 0 to c inclusive, and mount in this recess a bolt k adaptedto be thrust substantially radially of the shaft 6 by means of a springk. Preferably this bolt and spring are made of an integral strip ofspring metal with an angular end acting as the bolt is, a constructionwhich lends simplicity to the structure while at the same time affordingthe desired resistance to the rotation of a digit wheel locked'therebyand permitting the necessary compactness of structure. This bolt is isof a width to project across the space between two adjoining digitwheels, thus positioning it so that it will be capable of locking one ofthese wheels and of being released by the adjoining wheel of lowerdenomination. Each digit wheel 0 to inclusive upon one side thereof isprovided with a plurality of angular recesses or sockets m adapted to beengaged by the bolt is to lock this wheel against rotation in eitherdirection, a recess or socket m being provided for each charactercarried by the digit Wheel. It will thus be observed that when the headis set at zero throughout, every digitwheel excepting the unit orprimary wheel will be locked against movement in either direction. leaseof thesedigit wheels and permit the free rotation of any wheel under thecontrol To accomplish the rep of the transfer mechanism only when it isrequired to carry the wheel of next higher denomination through thismechanism, T provide each of the wheels 0 to c inclusive upon the sidethereof adjacent to the wheel of next higher denomination with an annular channel n about the shaft 1), at one point whereof determined by thefigure Q-cominm to the printing position, is a cam o adapte to engageand depress the bolt k in a mannor to actuate thisbolt and release thewheel of next higher denomination. In order to secure the desiredresult, it is necessary that the bolt k should project from adjacent toone wheel into this channel so as to be engaged by this releasing cam,

The operation of the herein described device is substantially asfollows: With each impression from the head, the plunger 7" is depressedand the name it oscillated to admatically actuated. Vi

the unit or primary wheel socket m of the wheel Vance the pawl 9 onetooth and cause its spring to bring it into'that relation to the ratchetd to cause the return oscillation of said frame to feed this wheelforward ne character. During this operation all of t e wheels 0 to a arelocked by the bolts k, the wheel 0 in the head shown not being autoiththe repetition of this operation, will be advanced until the figure 9 isin the printing position, whereupon the pawl y will drop into the recessi of this wheel a, permitting the pawl g to engage the ratchet 0Z of thetype wheel 0 preparatory to the transfer operation from the wheel 0 tothe wheel 0'. As the figure 9 approaches the printing position, the camo of the wheel 0 will engage the bolt is controlling the digit wheel 0',which prior to this time has been seated in the channel n of that wheel,so as to permit the free rotation of the wheel 0',

and depress" it against the tension of the spring is into the recess jin the shaft 1) in a manner to cause this bolt to recede entirely fromthe socket m and thus release the said wheel 0. Upon the return-movementof the frame It, the wheels 0 0 will advance one figure in unison, thespring is upon the completion of this movement forcing the bolt is intothe next recess or bolt 0" and locking this wheel against furthermovement until the next transfer operation. This operation is repeated,the wheels 0' to 0 moving to present numbers in arithmeticalprogression.

It will be observed that the only wheel moving under power except.during the operation of transferring from one wheel to another, is theunit or rimary wheel a, and that except when the gure 9' of any wheel isin the printing position, the wheel of next higher denomination islocked against movement. Assuming, however, that the wheel 0 in the tensplace, has the figure 9 in the printing position, the wheel 0 in thehundreds place will be unlocked. But unless the wheel 0 has its figure 9in the printing position, the wheel 0 will itself be locked againstmovement, so that no accidental movement of the wheel 0 can occur. In

fact, no movement of the wheel 0 can occur until the figure 9 on bothwheelsc and 0 is in the printing position, whereupon w c c and 0 which,as stated, is already unlocked, will be simultaneously advanced onefigure. Hence even though any wheel 0 a a or. c be unlocked, none ofthese can be turned so long as there is at least one wheel between itand the unit or primary wheel 0 which is locked. While the variouswheels 0' to c are normally locked,

the head may be set to any desired number I by turning the wheels insequence from the wheel a,

printing position in each.

heels so-as to bring the figure 9 tothe It is not my intention to limitmy inventionto use with thestype of numbering head shown in thedrawings, nor to the. precise details of construction illustrated, itbeing apparent that it may be used with various types of heads, and thatsuch details may be varied without departing from the spiri and scope ofthe invention.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

. 1 A numbering head embodying therein a main shaft, a sequence ofindependent digit wheels rotatably mounted thereon, independentlyoperative locking means normally holding each of said wheels of adenomination above the units wheel against rotation, means carried byeach wheel-of a lower denomination operative upon the locking means ofthe wheel of next higher denomination whereby said locking means isreleased when said wheel vof higher denomination is to be actuated inits. order during the operation of transferring, and all other wheels ofhigher denomination will remain locked, a main actuating mechanism,means actuated thereby and adapted to act directly. upon each digitwheel, and means carried by each digit wheel cooperating with said lastnamed means.

2. A numbering head embodying therein a fixed shaft having a pluralityof recesses therein, a sequence of independent digit wheels looselymounted upon said shaft, each of said wheels having a bolt socket foreach digit thereon, presented toward said shaft, independently operativedepressible locking means mounted in each of the recesses in said shaftand adapted respectively to normally enter the sockets in a digit wheel,

ing means of the wheel of next higher denomination when transfrring fromsaid wheel, of lower denomination to said wheel of next higherdenomination, whereby all other wheels of higher denomination remainlocked, a main actuating mechanism, means actuated thereby and adaptedto act directly upon each digit wheel and means carried by each digitwheelcooperating with said last named means,

3. A numbering head embodying therein a a fixed shaft, a sequence ofindependent digit wheels loosely mounted upon said shaft, automaticallyactin cooperating locking means carried bysaid shaft and said digitwheels respectively, means carried by each wheel of one denominationoperative upon the locking. means of the wheel of the next denominationwhereby in transferring from i one wheel 'to another only the wheelsto-b'e moved in transferring will be free to rotate,

a main actuating mechanism, nte'ans actuated thereby and adapted to actdirectly One upon each digit wheel and means carried by each digit wheelcooperating with said last named means.

4. A numbering head embodying therein a fixed shaft having a series ofrecesses therein, a plurality of independent digit type Wheels looselymounted upon said shaft, adjoining wheels projecting over said recesses,a transfer mechanism whereby said Wheels are successively rotated incarrying from one denomination to another, the adjoining faces of anytwo wheels having therein respectively a series of recesses or sockets,one :for each figure upon said wheel, and the other said wheel having achannel extending about said shaft with a cam surface projecting intoengagement with said shaft at one point thereof determined by theprinting position of the figure 9 on said wheel, a bolt seated in-eachsaid recess and adapted to enter saidsocket and said channel, whereby itis adapted to be engaged by said cam,.and a spring normally projectingsaid bolt outwardly. 5. A numbering head embodying therein a fixed shafthaving a series of recesses therein, a plurality of independent digittype wheels loosely mounted upon said shaft, adjoining Wheels projectingover said recesses, a transfer mechanism whereby said wheels aresuccessively rotated in carrying from one denomination to another, theadjoining faces of any two wheels having therein respectively a seriesof recesses or sockets, one

for each figure upon said wheel, and the other said wheel having achannel extendingabout said shaft with a cam surface proecting intoengagement with said shaft at point thereof determined by the printingposition of the figure 9 on said wheel, a

bolt seated in each said recess and adapted to enter said socket andsaid channel, whereby it is adapted to be engaged by said cam, and aspring normally projecting said bolt outwardly, said bolt and saidspring being formed of anintegral leaf spring connected,

actuating mechanism, meansactuated thereby and adapted to act directlyupon each digit wheel, and means carried by each digit wheel cooperatingwith said last named;

means.

7. A numbering head embodying therein a plurality of digit wheels, atransfer mechanism, independently oper ative means preventing theactuation of one wheelby an adjoining wheel, means carried by each digitwheel for releasing an adjoining wheel, at a time when said transfermechanism is operative thereon, and a main actuating mechanismcontrollin the units digit wheel and said transfer mec anism.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto aflixed my signature, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of June, 1912.

. AMQS HISMI'IFH.

Witnesses:

A. S. MA OR, lELrAs Amman means normally

